3,439. 3/12/2002

In a press conference to announce the introduction of the ‘terror alert system’ on March 12, 2002, Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said: “the nation ‘currently stands in the yellow condition, elevated risk. Chances are we will not be able to lower the condition to green until…the terror networks of global reach have been defeated and dismantled. And we are far from being able to predict that day.’ ”